The Indiana National Guard is launching a podcast.

According to the state military, each episode will explore topics that are relevant to Hoosier Guard members. Some of the topics scheduled to be covered are the enlisted promotion process and talent management, leadership development, health and fitness, rifle marksmanship, and growth and advancement.

Command Sgt. Maj. Dale Shetler is the senior enlisted advisor for the Indiana National Guard and the podcast’s first guest. He said it is a chance for troops and their families to learn about their organization, their opportunities and benefits and to stay connected to experts and leaders.

The podcast will be available on all major streaming services. You can get find a link for more information on our website. https://linktr.ee/limacharliepodcast.

Landmark Columbus Foundation is partnering with Black History Month Columbus today for the final in its month-long series of tours of historic places in Black history.

Organizers say that the downtown tour highlights significant places where Black-owned businesses operated in the 19th and 20th centuries. Maps for the self-guided tour have been provided by Columbus resident Paulette Roberts.

The foundation office will be open during the tour for refreshments from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 408 Sixth Street.

You can get more information at https://www.blackhistorycolumbus.com/events

Cummins is announcing the promotion of three employees to vice president roles, effective March 1st — Jane Beaman, Andreas Lippert and José Samperio.

Jennifer Rumsey, President and CEO, of the Columbus based engine manufacturer said that the three are experts in their fields and hold roles strategically important to Cummins’ long-term success.

Beaman is being promoted to vice President and General Manager of the Pickup and Global Bus Business.

Lippert is being promoted to Vice President – New Power Engineering

Samperio will be Vice President and General Manager – North America On-Highway

In its announcement, the company said that all three leaders bring a variety of valuable talents and diverse experiences to their new roles. That is critical to navigating short-term challenges and progressing on the path to zero emissions.

You can get more information here https://investor.cummins.com/news/detail/595/cummins-promotes-three-leaders-to-vice-president

A movie being filmed in Columbus next month is looking for extras.

The film “Ice Cream Man” is set for filming at Zaharakos from Saturday, March 11th through Friday, March 17th. The restaurant will be closed during those dates. Filmmakers are also planning to shoot in the area on March 18th and 19th..

According to the filmmakers, extras are needed for crowd scenes. They say that they mostly need adults ages 18 to 70, but children age 6 and older are also welcome, too. The greatest need for extras will be on Sunday, March 12th  and Saturday and Sunday, March 18th and  19th. They also hope to find extras who would be available on more than one day for multiple scenes.

Most scenes involving extras will require standing for periods of time.

The filmmakers say that most scenes will be filmed in Columbus but there also could be shots in other parts of Central Indiana.

The film is based on the true story of a Jewish business owner and his treatment by the Nazis.

For more information or to sign up you can go online to https://theicecreamman.movie/extras/ .

Former Vice President Mike Pence, a Columbus native, says programs like Social Security and Medicare have to be addressed.

Speaking to CNBC, Pence called for them to be examined in the long-term as he commended House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for not touching them during current debt ceiling negotiations. However, Pence said nobody in the nation’s capital wants to talk about entitlement programs like Medicare driving the debt crisis over the next quarter century. As for what changes he would make, Pence mentioned personal savings accounts.

The former Indiana governor defended the Trump-Pence administration not addressing entitlements during their time in office, saying they had to focus on the economy after the Obama years.

Pence also isn’t tipping his hand on whether he’ll run for President in 2024. Speaking with the network, all he would say is “I’ll keep you posted.”

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks Inc.

A Bartholomew County man is facing charges of child pornography after a six month investigation by authorities.

According to the Indiana State Police, the investigation began in September after an online tip was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The investigation led to troopers obtaining a search warrant for a rural Bartholomew County home.

On Tuesday, troopers searched the home, finding images of child pornography in the possession of 61-year-old Kevin Ray Batman.

Batman was arrested on eight felony charges of Possession of Child Pornography.

Batman will soon make his initial appearance in Bartholomew Circuit Court.

Schneck Medical Center in Seymour is again being recognized as one of the top rural and community hospitals by a national group.

The hospital has been chosen as one of the Top 100 by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. The organizations honors outstanding performers on its rural hospital performance index. The index measures and monitors performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

This is Schneck’s fifth consecutive year to be named to the list. It is one of only five Indiana hospitals to be honored.

An IUPUC professor has been chosen as the first fellow for the CivicLab’s new fellowship program.

CivicLab, part of the Community Education Coalition in Columbus, is a nonprofit institute dedicated to advancing civic collaborations in the Columbus way — with community teams working together to approach complex social problems.

The CivicLab Fellows program will include national leaders selected for their unique knowledge, skills, and abilities that can be applicable to civic collaboration at the community, regional, and state level.

Dr. George Towers is the first fellow and is the Head of the Division of Liberal Arts and a professor of Geography at IUPUC. He will bring his data expertise including data visualizations using census-block data, and development of new equity-focused indices to communities and regions served by CivicLab.

He has been working in Bartholomew County for three years toward a goal of becoming the most equitable community for youth by 2030.

Several rural and urban communities have already registered with CivicLab to receive support from Towers.

You can learn more about CivicLab at https://educationcoalition.com/civic-lab/

Registrations are now open for the Columbus Parks Department’s Tour de Trails.

The run-walk event, set for April 15th includes an 8k Run, 5k Run and a 5k walk starting at the Donner Park Shelterhouse. The route will run through Donner Park, Noblitt Park, Mill Race Park and the People Trail network. There will be trophies for the winner in each age division.

The Tour de Trails Bicycle Challenge is May 13th and includes a 20K, 50K, or 80K Bicycle Challenge.

You can participate as an individual or as part of a team.

If you you register for the run-walk before April 3rd, or the bicycle challenge before May 1st you will receive a $5 discount and be guaranteed a T-shirt.

Tickets are $30. Proceeds benefit the Columbus Park Foundation. You can find a link to sign up here.

Major John Martoccia is the new chief deputy for Bartholomew County.

Sheriff Chris Lane made the announcement today that Martoccia would take on the role as second in command of the department. Lane said “He has devoted his life to serving the citizens of Bartholomew County and I am proud for him to continue his service as my Chief Deputy.”

Martoccia has been with the sheriff’s department for 29 years. He is a graduate of Columbus East High School and Vincennes University. He was part of the Leadership Bartholomew County class in 2011. He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2012.

Martoccia began working in law enforcement in 1994 in the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department corrections division. He was promoted to merit deputy and graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1995.

Martoccia has served as a patrol deputy, detective, narcotics detective, patrol supervisor and most recently as jail commander.

Martoccia lives in Bartholomew County with his wife, Aimee, and their three children.